Council adopts cybersecurity FTE and refers remainder of $21.7M Budget Amendment No. 3

The Salt Lake City Council closed the public hearing on Budget Amendment No. 3 and on a unanimous vote adopted one new cybersecurity engineer (1.0 FTE) from item A2, while referring the remaining items in the amendment to a future meeting for action.

Sylvia Richards, council policy analyst, told the council Budget Amendment No. 3 contains 21 items with total expenditures of over $21,700,000. Richards cited several large items in the package, including a $3,900,000 streets impact fee excess capacity reimbursement to the general fund; $285,000 for rescoping vacancy savings in public lands (vehicles, equipment and events); and $150,000 to accelerate treatments for diseased sycamore trees.

Public commenters addressed items in the amendment. "I just really wanted to thank Councilman Dugan for proposing the money for these sycamore trees up in our area," said Becky Woods, a resident, describing the trees' ecological value and a desire to preserve them. Alec Conkle, a District 4 resident, said he supported the amendment and noted several transportation initiatives included in the package. Bernie Hart, a resident, urged the city to use the "justice bus" concept to improve accountability for the justice and care systems, and cited HB 298 as possible legislative context.

The motion to close the public hearing, adopt the cybersecurity engineer 1.0 FTE from item A2, and refer the remaining amendment items was made by Council Member Dugan and seconded by Council Member Young. The council voted "Aye" with the motion recorded as passing unanimously.

Richards said the administration's transmittal and an updated staff report are available in the meeting packet and on the city's budget web page; the staff report itemized the amendment line items. The council's action tonight adopted only the single FTE listed and postponed final action on the remainder of the amendment for further review and a future vote.